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No shame in defeat

Bantams boss Phil Parkinson says he couldn't fault the efforts of his players following City's Capital One Cup Final defeat at the hands of Premier League side Swansea City this Sunday.

Showing all of their Premiership class, Swansea proved too much for Parkinson's men to handle as the Welsh side registered a 5-0 victory in front of a packed Wembley Stadium.

Despite the heartbreaking defeat though, Parkinson refused to get too disappointed post-match after his side had continually defied all the odds this season just to make it to the final.

Parkinson said: "There is no way I can say anything negative about the players.

"They have all been magnificent to get us to this final.

"What Swansea did to us today they've done to Premier League sides this season. They are an outstanding side with a great manager.

"We have to be realistic. One of their players probably takes home a year my whole budget for this season. That is the gulf we are talking about.

"We can't reflect on the negatives of losing. We have to remember what a great achievement it has been to get to this final and what a great occasion it has been to be involved in a major cup final here at Wembley Stadium.

"We probably didn't do everything to our maximum today but it was a big day for the players and a big ask for them to find their top level against such brilliant opponents.

"Of course, the day could have gone a lot better for us but to beat Wigan, Arsenal and Aston Villa to get here was unbelievable. Those are the times we have to remember when reflecting back on this cup run.

"The way the lads have conducted themselves throughout this added exposure has been outstanding.

"As painful as this defeat might be at this moment, just getting to this cup final alone has done this club a power of good financially. That is obviously a great thing for the club, and it allows myself and the chairmen to sit down and hopefully really plan for the future."

On a day marked down by many as one of the biggest in the club's history, City's fans certainly did their beloved Bantams proud.

Over 32,000 supporters followed Parkinson's men down to Wembley and gave them a wonderful vocal backing from beginning to end.

Parkinson added: "The highlight of the match for me was the way the fans stayed behind the team right throughout the whole game.

"They were truly magnificent and I think they recognised what a great achievement it was for fourth tier side just to make it to this cup final."